Students in Years 7 and 8 last week learned a lot more about building resilience and positive mental health strategies when Hugh van Cuylenburg came to the College to speak to them. Hugh, the creator of The Resilience Project, made the presentation as part of our Pastoral Care program in which we use The Resilience Project journals. By bringing in presenters like Hugh and working through the journals, we aim to help all our students become mentally healthy.
The Resilience Project delivers emotionally engaging programs to schools, sports clubs and businesses, providing practical, evidence-based, positive mental health strategies to build resilience and happiness. Hugh and his team have delivered programs to over 500 schools around the country and worked with many elite sporting teams including the Australian cricket, netball and soccer teams as well as NRL and AFL clubs.
Here are some student reflections on the visit:
Hugh was entertaining and fun to listen to. He told his stories of gratitude very well and even if he went a bit off-topic sometimes, he still made the session really fun. He also taught me about how I can be grateful for the things I have and the friends around me. I went home and pointed at everything I was grateful for. My mum thought I was crazy, which makes sense, but I know that I'm much luckier than others and I'm very grateful for that. For the random person reading this, have a great day, and don't be disappointed in what you don't have, and be grateful for what you DO have!
— Mia Sattler (Year 8 Purple)
Hugh really engaged us with his interesting stories and events. Everyone was hooked and no-one got bored and started talking. Listening to him about the places he had been to brought tears to my eyes as well as joy, because I didn't realise what I'd taken for granted. One thing I realised that I took for granted was a tap! I never thought I would feel so grateful over a simple tap until Hugh told the story about some children in a village in India who couldn't believe that in Melbourne (where Hugh lives) people get their water out of taps in the walls of their houses — they had never heard of or seen a tap in their lives before then. I believe everyone took something away from Tuesday and is now trying to change their thinking, because I know I am doing it right now.
— Jena Schaak (Year 8 Orange)
The visit from Hugh was very inspiring and made me feel so lucky for the basic resources and privileges I take for granted every day, such as taps with running water, shelter, family, a bed to sleep in and fresh food. Children like Stunzin are so happy for everything they have, which is very little. They have to walk half an hour just to get a single bucket of dirty water from a river, then they have to boil it for an hour or more to get it pure. This is just one of the daily struggles these kids have to face — all we have to do is walk to a tap. While we are here in a first world country complaining about charging our phones or not having enough food in the fridge, children and adults in other countries don't even have a roof to sleep under. I am so much more thankful for everything I have, and by using the three steps to happiness (gratitude, empathy and mindfulness) I will be a lot more grateful.
— Lexi Cultrera (Year 8 Jade)
Hugh told us two very memorable stories. The first was a heartfelt story about his sister that suffered from an extreme case of anxiety and how she overcame it by using the three keys to happiness, which are kindness, mindfulness and gratitude. The second story was about when Hugh taught school in India. He taught a young boy who was extremely grateful for everything he had, even though he had very little — no blankets or pillows, just to name a few things. However, he was still happy and this was how Hugh found out the true meaning of the three keys to happiness. I am very thankful that our school was able to organise such a special event. I know not only how to live a happy life but I know to be grateful for everything I have.
— Ella Hall (Year 8 White)
